May 31 Deadline for Astana
Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel revealed Tuesday that the UCI has set a deadline of May 31 for the Kazakh sponsor's finances to be resolved, otherwise the team of Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer, et. al. will face suspension. Astana has not paid its staff recently and despite assurances from the Kazakhstan cycling federation, the future does not look rosy for the team. Lance Armstrong has been discussing sponsorship possibilities with potential backers from the United States, and has stated on his own that he would like to assume control of a team in the near future.
Nonetheless, time is running out.
"That's the deadline to arrange the whole financial situation," Bruyneel commented in an AP report Tuesday, referring to the May 31 deadline. "If it's not taken care of by then, the letter says that the team will be suspended."
"At least we're going to be able to finish the Giro," he added. Clearly a new solution must present itself for the team to remain active and a viable candidate for the Tour de France in July, where both Contador and Armstrong are expected to shine.
UCI president Pat McQuaid is planning a trip to Kazakhstan later this week to discuss the situation with the team's backers and the Kazakh federation.
"It's difficult to go to any major corporation and say in the middle of the calendar year, or the fiscal year, and say, 'how about we start in 20 or 30 days?'" Armstrong said, "but we'll see."
Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel revealed Tuesday that the UCI has set a deadline of May 31 for the Kazakh sponsor's finances to be resolved, otherwise the team of Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer, et. al. will face suspension. Astana has not paid its staff recently and despite assurances from the Kazakhstan cycling federation, the future does not look rosy for the team. Lance Armstrong has been discussing sponsorship possibilities with potential backers from the United States, and has stated on his own that he would like to assume control of a team in the near future.
Nonetheless, time is running out.
"That's the deadline to arrange the whole financial situation," Bruyneel commented in an AP report Tuesday, referring to the May 31 deadline. "If it's not taken care of by then, the letter says that the team will be suspended."
"At least we're going to be able to finish the Giro," he added. Clearly a new solution must present itself for the team to remain active and a viable candidate for the Tour de France in July, where both Contador and Armstrong are expected to shine.
UCI president Pat McQuaid is planning a trip to Kazakhstan later this week to discuss the situation with the team's backers and the Kazakh federation.
"It's difficult to go to any major corporation and say in the middle of the calendar year, or the fiscal year, and say, 'how about we start in 20 or 30 days?'" Armstrong said, "but we'll see."
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